Wool mill at Ardgay takes on first paid staff after funding award
A community interest company developing a small wool mill on a Sutherland farm has taken on its first paid members of staff thanks to a funding award.
The Highland Wool Community Interest Company (CIC) was established in 2022 to develop and operate a fleece-to-fibre mill at the Hirsel, Kincardine Hill, Ardgay.
The Hirsel is a small, nature-friendly farm managed by Donald and Donna Gillies. Donna is the project manager of the wool mill, which washes and cards wool from small-scale producers in the Highlands and Islands.
Until now the mill project has been progressed by Donna and fellow directors Jan Charge and Katherine Sharp, with support from volunteers.
However, a generous Build It grant award from Firstport, Scotland’s social enterprise development agency, has now enabled the company to employ two part-time members of staff.
Build It aims to help early-stage social enterprises working towards becoming financially sustainable and offers grant funding for salary costs.
The grant award comes at the same time as the mill has been fully opened for business after two years of trials.
Long-time volunteer Anna George will take on a paid role as assistant mill manager.
Anna, the accomplished ‘Baadninish Weaver’, has been a stalwart supporter and volunteer from the start of the mill project.
She will spend more time at the mill processing wool alongside Donna, Jan and volunteer Ali Sutherland.
Anna will also take the lead on the weekly Knit & Natter sessions, hosted by Highland Wool CIC and held in Ardgay Hall on Wednesdays from 7-9pm. The sessions are sponsored by Beinn Tharsuinn Wind Farm.
Anna is joined on the team by Kathy Smith, a long-time resident of Bonar Bridge, who will take up the role of development officer.
She and her husband, Ian, ran the Caledonian Curry Company and the Crannag Bistro & Takeaway in Bonar Bridge for over 20 years.
Kathy is also well known in the community for her work developing the Kyle of Sutherland Hub, as well as for her recent volunteering at Bonar Bridge Community Hall.
The new season kicks off this month, when the mill will start processing this year’s clip.
The team expects to increase both the volume of fleece processed and the speed of processing each consignment once the mill’s Victorian carder – nicknamed ‘Caroline’ – is fully operational.
Although she has been renovated and cleaned, the effects of sitting in a barn for 12 years caught up with her, as the carding fabric on one of the rollers needed replacing.
Thanks to a successful application to North Highland Initiative, the team was able to source and purchase replacement fabric and Donald Gillies built a tensioning device to fit it.
After some training and practice with ‘rescued’ fleece prepared over the winter, Caroline will soon be ready for action.
Donna said: “It’s fantastic to finally be able to give two of our supporters and volunteers a title, and a pay cheque in return!
“We’re so grateful to everyone who’s volunteered their time and to our customers, who have trusted us with their fleece. We’re looking forward to growing over this coming season.
“And, of course, we couldn’t have got where we are now without the support of Firstport, the North Highland Initiative and the Highland Council’s Community Regeneration Fund”
Highland Wool will be attending many local events throughout the summer, beginning with the NSA Highland Sheep event at Midfearn Farm on June 11.
The programme of events and more information about booking the mill’s services for washing and preparing wool are available online at www.highlandwool.scot.
